Birth and Postnatal Doula

​Whatever you want
Whatever you like
Whatever you say
Whatever you need

Doula" (pronounced "doola") is a Greek word meaning "woman servant or caregiver". It now refers to an experienced woman who offers nonclinical, emotional and practical support to a woman (or couple) before, during and after childbirth. A doula believes in “mothering the mother” - enabling a woman to have the most satisfying and empowered time during pregnancy, birth and the early days as a new mum. This type of support also helps the whole family to relax and enjoy the experience.

Doula work helps support all women, regardless of their background and journey

As a Doula I seek to respect and honour client’s choices. It is your baby, your body and your choices. As a Doula I research and signpost parents to quality information. I am here to support them all through the pregnancy, labour, birth and postnatal period.

I support people from all backgrounds, situations, behaviours and emotional journeys. I have worked with with drug and alcohol addictions, phobias, relationship issues and many more aspects of simply being human. ​ I have supported women who have multiple miscarriages. I have been there for some to achieve fertility. And I have listened to those who struggle to accept their life without children. For those who have been pregnant, I have supported parents through childbirth. I have witnessed various outcomes, including undiagnosed illnesses of the new born and sometimes birthing stillborn babies.  I have also supported mums to continue their pregnancy following rape and assault and supported those women who have chosen not to continue a pregnancy.

Throughout all of this, I strive to remain respectful at all times. ​

Renee is a recognised Birth and Postnatal Doula based in West Lothian. She is registered with Doula UK and a member of the Red Tent Antenatal Educators and Doulas and also Abuela Doulas.  In 2017, Renee was invited to apply with Doula UK to become a Mentor of newly trained Doulas and was accepted as a Doula UK Mentor. 

“It is so great to be able to take part in the journey of newly trained Doulas and to know that through this mentoring process we are providing mums with a quality assured service for the future. I want each and every woman to have the best possible birth experience.” Renee

This desire led Renee to train specifically in the field of complementary maternity care. Much has changed and much has remained the same since 1974 when she became a mother. However, the basic needs of women have not changed, which are:

• To be supported
• To be protected
• To become empowered and be able to make informed choices
• To be prepared and have tools to support yourself during labour, birth and early parenthood using hypnobirthing
• To choose where and how you give birth
• To have as gentle and nurturing birth experience as is possible for you to have
• To take plenty of time, relax and enjoy the moment

Renee's role is to give you emotional and hands-on support to enable you and your family to enjoy this special family time.

She trained with Adela Stockton of Birth Consultancy and was mentored by Nicola Goodall.

In 2006 she trained with Suzanne Yates of Well Mother and began teaching positions, breathing, visualisations and massage for labour and birth. She then completed a HND Antenatal Education and currently has the joy of working with pregnant mums on a regular basis providing her own hypnobirthing/antenatal education course Doula services and Advanced Clinical Hypnotherapy when required. A few mums and dads have Tokophobia (a fear of childbirth) or are afraid of needles/hospitals so when it’s needed we work with hypnotherapy to empower parents.

In her work as a Clinical Hypnotherapist she works from the Clinic Room in Broxburn, West Lothian, so that she can be readily on-hand for mums in labour.  

​Introducing John 'Johnny' Deprez  Sandilands. Born on 5 November under a sky of fireworks. Mum and baby well and navigating this crazy world of parenting one sleepless night at a time along with  super-dad David Sandilands. Can't thank enough the support of our families, friends, amazing doula Renee Elliott, and the fantastic midwives who helped deliver our baby, for all they have done. Read full testimonial.

I am here to EMPOWER you and nurture you

From the date a contract is agreed, Renee is available to talk to you in person, by telephone, via email or Zoom.  

She will spend time with you so that you get to know your Doula and she gets to know you and your needs and wants during the antenatal period and for a few weeks after the birth. If you require her to attend midwife and/or hospital appointments with you, that can be arranged. Providing information for making informed decisions, pregnancy massage, an ever listening ear, lots of cuppa’s, chats and hugs when and if required!  The pregnancy really is a time for your Doula to nurture you. 

Included in Renee's Doula Package, if desired, is a One-to-One Antenatal and Hypnosis for Birth (Hypnobirthing Classes) for you and any Birthing Partners. 

Renee works with mums who are wishing a VBAC, those who have had unfortunate previous experiences and outcomes and want extra support for a subsequent pregnancy, labour and birth.  Mums who choose to birth at home, in midwife led units, birth centres and obstetric consultant led units, it really is whatever way to choose and whichever way the journey develops. She is also comfortable in operating theatres, should her companionship be desired by the mum-to-be.

Being a Birth Doula means being on call 24 hours a day from around 38-43 weeks of your pregnancy.  I set aside part of the fee to cover the agreed “on Call” weeks for you as it is quite a commitment to be living 24 hours a day beside a fully charged mobile phone and no more than a car's drive away from a mum at all times. 

I recommend reading this article from Jodi if you want to find out more about What a Doula will offer you and how her fee is put together.

Having a Doula improves many outcomes

​You can find statistics that provide evidence to support the claim that having a Doula reduces the use of opiate drugs, epidurals (20%) , forceps, caesarean birth (15%), increases the rate of natural birth (45%), increases the rate of a vaginal birth following a previous caesarean birth (70%). MIDIRS JOURNAL. June 2009.

​Statistics are extracted from 165 survey forms returned totalling, 735 births attended by members of DOULA UK.

I think it all comes down to what YOU want. 

If you want a Doula to:

• help you prepare for one, if not the most, important event in your life
• to care for you in the remainder of your pregnancy, birth and beyond 
• assist you with positions and breathing
• support your partner to do as much as they feel comfortable doing
• help you to explore your choices on any subject matter relating to birth and parenting 
• support you in your transition into parenting 
• support you while you look back at your birth experiences (past and present)
• help you establish breastfeeding or other feeding options

then I am there...

Many years ago in the 1960's when many women gave birth at home it was common to have a Home Help who visited very day for a week or two weeks after the birth. I can remember the Home Helps that my mother had for my brothers' and sisters' births. These women were an important factor in allowing the new mother time to relax and enjoy those first few precious weeks and I liken the Postnatal Doula of today, in part, with that image in my mind. 

Before you decide on hiring me as a Doula, I will meet with you, or you and your partner to discuss your needs and my service. There will be no charge for this initial consultation.

Birth Doula Fees

The full birth package is a total of £1145.
A £100 deposit is payable upon agreement.

Clients can choose whether to pay for the full service up front or  equal installments with the final balance paid at the end of the 35th week of pregnancy.

There is always a way.

Postnatal Doula Fees

• Available for  between 2 and 4 hours a day.
• Minimum contract duration is 12 hours.
• Available by email and on the phone from day of birth.
• Rate at £25 per hour including travel time for each visit plus travel expenses at 45p per mile.
• Deposit of £100 upon signing of contract and  invoices for payment on a weekly basis.

I do cover a large geographical area and I have been a Postnatal Doula for mums in  Lanarkshire, Lothian and Fife.

If in doubt just ask!

SPEAK TO ME ABOUT DOULA SERVICES